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Nine Events in 14 Days Yields Big Dollars and Awareness for Rare Disease Research

With each passing year, Uplifting Athletes continues to grow and expand its footprint in the world of college football to help in the fight against rare diseases.

Considering the organization has doubled in each of the initial five years of existence as we laid our roots, what has happened in 2013 was unprecedented.

The addition of five new active chapters in less than six months – three of those five holding events in July – made for one busy season.

It all added up to a run of nine events in 14 days that raised nearly $180,000 for rare disease research.

“A mark of our progress as an organization is the sense of calmness in the midst of the craziness,” Executive Director Scott Shirley said. “We have a small team of amazing employees and broad network of student-athlete volunteers who are playing to win and we’re definitely moving the ball down the field in the fight against rare diseases.

“Our collective efforts are inspiring the rare disease community with hope.”

Kicking off the train was Notre Dame holding a bowling event as the first official event for the Fighting Irish chapter.

In between that July 14 event and NC State holding its second Lift For Life on July 25, new chapters at South Carolina, Syracuse and Wisconsin each held inaugural Lift For Life events to raise funds and awareness for its chosen rare disease.

The Nebraska chapter teamed up with the Lincoln Track Club to hold a highly successful 5K road race. It was the first official event for the Cornhuskers’ chapter.

Penn State set a fundraising record for a chapter during its 11th Lift For Life and Fordham and Northwestern held their second and third events, respectively.